Taffeta is a crisp, smooth, plain woven fabric that is commonly used to make high-end womens apparel. It can be made from a variety of materials, including silk, nylon, cuprammonium rayons, acetate, or polyester. The word "taffeta" came into Middle English via Old French and Old Italian, which borrowed the Persian word tāfta, which means "silk" or "linen".

Taffeta is considered a luxury fabric and is relatively prone to damage, so it is not commonly used in everyday clothing. Instead, it is often used for special occasion clothing, such as wedding and party dresses, as well as for linings in jackets.

Historically, taffeta has been used for purposes other than clothing fabric, including constructing small balloons and simulating the structure of blood vessels. During World War II, taffeta was even used to make parachutes. Today, taffeta is also used to make consumer items such as umbrellas and handbags, as well as certain forms of insulation.

India is the largest exporter of taffeta fabric, with Pakistan and China also producing it.